Mechanical horn.



v 0. c. ARLITZ,

' MECHANICAL HORN. APPLICATION FILED ma. 3.1911.

" Patented Feb; 29,1916.

@0634. ffl egzime untransrarns FATE a Oscar. C.-ARLITZ, or new YORK, n. r, ASSIGNOB T0 novmn-mceonnnpnraanurao- TUBING COMPANY, a oonrona'rion or nnnawann.

MECHANICAL HORN.

masses.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 29', 191%.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, OSCAR C. ARLrrz, a citizen of the United States, residing in the borough of Manhattan, in the city, county,-

and State'of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Mechanical Horns, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings, which form a part thereof.

My invention relates to mechanical horns, and more particularly to a type thereof employing a i'hechanically flexed diaphragm.

One object of my invention is to provide a horn of this character wherein the diaphragm will be subjected to intermittent, variable impulses from the striker member so as to develop pulsating, siren-like sound Waves by the diaphragm, and will, through the eccentricity of the sound produced, increase the efiectiveness of the horn as a signalof danger.

A further object is to provide a horn wherein the cooperating impact member carried by the diaphragm and the rotary striker member will be so constructed and arranged as to increase the number of effective impulses imparted to the diaphragm with each rotation of the striker member, thus increasing the frequency of the sound waves and, if desired, permitting a diminu tion in the rotative speed of the striker member.

Astill further'object is to provide a horn of this character, embodying a rotary member having a plurality of impact surfaces thereon, wherein said member in its entirety will be automatically projected into engagement with the impact member of the d aphragm while the latter is in its normal plane and will automatically recede under the reflex action of the diaphragm so as to always be in an efiective engaging plane with the diaphragm, irrespective of the frequency or degree of fiexure or reflexure of the diaphragm.

A still further object is to provide in a horn of this character, means whereby the maximum automatic adjustment of the striker member may be regulated while the in Figs.

horn is. in operation to facilitate the attunement of the horn; And a still further object is to provide a horn of this character wh ch may beinexpensively produced and which will be simple and artistic in design.

The invention consists primarily in a mechanical horn embodying therein such other novel features of constructicnand combination of parts, as are hereinafter setforth and described, and more particularly pointed out in the'claims hereto appended.

Referring to the drawings:-Figure 1 is a side elevation of a horn embodying my invention in its preferred form, the horn casing being shown in section to disclose the arrangement of the actuating mechanism; Fig. 2 is a detailed view of the impact member carried by the diaphragm; Fig. 3 is a projected view of the impact member shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view of a horn embodying a modified form of my invention, whereby the striker member is caused to automatically adjust itself to its effective operative plane; Fig. 5 is a projected view of the striker mechanism shown 4 and 6; Fig. 6 is a still further modification of the invention, the horn casing being shown in section.

Like letters refer to like parts throughout the several views.

In the preferred form of my invention shown in the drawings, a indicates a casing, the forward end of which is provided with a plate I) having a sound outlet opening therein at c. Projecting from the plate I) is an ordinary amplifier or horn (1. Mounted Within the forward end of the casing a, adjacent to the plate I) and spaced away therefrom, is a diaphragm 6 preferably composedof metal, although any other desired material which will withstand wearand the.

flexing thereof with high frequency-may be used. The casing a has mounted therein an electric motor f of any desired or known construction, the armature g of which has axial movement relative to the field magnets so as to permit axial movement of the shaft f of said motor. Within the casing a, forwardly of the motor if, is a partition a carrying ball bearings a or the shaft f.

members It preferably four in number, as-

shown in the projection of this member illustrated in Fig." 3, said disk It being set upon the shaft f by means of the set screw it an arrangement which permits said disk to be adjusted upon its shaft in assembling to bring the impact members h into the desired initial plane relative to the diaphragm.

The diaphragm e carries centrally thereof, a wear or impact plate 2', having thereon a plurality of projecting impact studs or members 2'. projecting radially of the plate 2'- and projecting from the diaphragm in a manner to bring them within the operative plane of the impact 0r striker'members it upon the rotary striker member. The number of the impact surfaces z"- and striker impact surfaces It is dissimilar, thus causing each said striker impact during each cycle of said shaft f to engage each said diaphragm impact with a resultantincrease in the frequency of the flexure of the diaphragm with each rotation of said shaft to a multiple of the said impacts. This not only permits an increase in the frequency of the impulses imparted to the diaphragm, with each rotation of the striker member, but permits any desired frequency of flexure or vibration impulses with a minimum number of rotations of the rotary striker mem-.

ber, thus resulting in a conservation of the energy required to operate the horn.

Closing the rear of the casing a is a back I plate '7' carrying, in the preferred "form of the'invention, an axially adjustable thrust bearing 7" for the shaft f. 'About the bearin}; j is a housing 7' for the coiledspring j? acted upon by an adjustment member such asthe screw 7 carried by the said housing.

By this construction, the shaft f in its en-.

tirety is normally thrust forward within the initial operative plane established in assembling the device, the tension of the spring i determining the force of the impact members k and z" and permitting the shaft f and the striker member. to recede with the reflex action of the diaphragm and to automatically assume an effective oper- --ative plane which will permit said diaphragm to freely vibrate upon both sides of its normal plane. I The adjustment member 1" permits the regulation of the tension of the spring 1'- so as to determine the force of the impact and permit the variation thereof while the horn is in operation so that the note may be determined or the horn tuned while it is running. This construction permits all of the striker impacts h to beprojected simultaneously and to simultaneously recede with the reflex action ment, the main-results may be accomplishedin other ways, which I have shown in modified forms ofthe invention in the drawings, and will hereinafter describe.

In diaphragmhorns heretofore made, the

note or pitch of the horn has been uniform so long as the rotary striker member had the same number of revolutions per minute. In ';my presentinventi'on, I provide for a pulsating or siren-like note by so constructh ing and arranging the cooperating impact surfaces upon the striker and the diaphragm .as to cause the engagement of successive im-' pact me'mbers to flex the. diaphragm to a varlable' extent with a resultant variation'in the displacement of air and in the tone or pitch of the note produced. The striker impacts h are arranged concentrically of and spaced away fromthe axis of the shaft f and at the same radial distance from said axis about a plane parallel with the diaphragm. To secure a variable flexure of'the diaphragm, I makethe diaphragm-impact members a" "of different lengths so that the members h will act in succession at varying distances from the axis of the diaphragm thusresultingin a different degree of flexure, varying from aslight flexure from the shortest diaphragm impact, to a considerably greaterflexure from the longest: of such impacts. the development of the pulsating note above referred to, due to the predetermined variation in the degree of flexure of the diaphragm through the cooperation of the impact members upon the striker member and upon the diaphragm.

In the preferred form of the invention, the axis of the shaft f may be alined with that of the diaphragm by reason of the employment of a plurality ofdiaphragm impact members 2'. In the modification shown in Figs. 4 to 6. however, the shaft f is off" set as to the axis of the diaphragm and said diaphragm is provided with a single wear stud or impact member i secured centrally thereof. The pulsating or siren-like effect,

in the modifications shown in the figures prising a sequence of teeth or impact mem- This arrangement results in twaeaa bers arranged on a plane parallel with the diaphragm concentrically about and spaced away from the axis of rotation and at the same radial distance therefrom, and one manner of arranging the teeth to secure the pulsating effect is illustrated in the projected view (Fig. 5) of one of the striker members shown in Figs. 4 and 6.

The construction differs from that shown in the preferred form as to the'means varying the force of the impact in the following respect: The spring having the same functions as the spring 7' in the preferred form of the invention, is located between the disk It and the partition a, the adjustment member j serving solely to limit the return movement of the shaft f under the reflex action of the diaphragm.

In the modification shown in Fig. 6, I combine in one structure the cooperating impact mechanisms shown in the modification illustrated in Figs. 4 and- 5 with the thrust mechanism shown in Fig. 1, the operation of the modification shown in this figure being the same in all respects as in both of the other forms.

The operation of the preferred form of the invention is substantially as follows When the circuit to the motor is closed, the shaft f thereof and the disk It and impact members it thereon are rotated rapidly, each member h engaging successively'the diaphragm impact members i, and flexing the diaphragm. The spring 7' controls the force of the blow, the resistance of the diaphragm not being sufficiently great to overcome the tension of said spring. If, however, upon the reflex. action of the diaphragm, one of the diaphragm impact members engages one of the striker impacts h, it will carry all of the impact members h rearwardly and simultaneously within the casing a against the tension of the spring 7' until this rearward movement is checked by the member 7'*. As each impact member h flexes the diaphragm in this manner. it will be readily observed that the diaphragm is thus flexed twelve times with each rotation of the shaft f. said number of fiexures being capable of being increased by a multiplication of the impact members and the preservation of the relative disproportionate number of such upon the diaphragm and the rotarv striker.

Assuming that one of the teeth It first engages the shortest diaphragm impact member 2'', this same tooth in its impacts with the successive members i will repeatedly flex the diaphragm with agradually increased degree of fiexure, thus gradually increasing the pitch of the note produced. Each of the impact members h will operate in the manner I have above described, the re ult being an eccentric. pulsating or siren-like note. All of the impact members h receding simultaneously, it will be observed that the relative position of the diaphragm and the striker member is always such as to secure the desired impact between the cooperating impact members, said striker member having a normal forward thrust.

The operation of the modification shown in Figs. 4 to 6 is substantially like that heretofore described, except that the height of the impact members it and it varies the degree of fiexure of the diaphragm.

It is not my intention to limit the invention to the precise details of construction shown in the accompanying drawings, it being apparent that such may be varied without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention.

I believe it to be broadly new to provide a mechanical horn wherein means are provided for varying the degree of flexure of the diaphragm by successive impacts upon a rotary striker member, and'll intend to claim such broadly. I also believe it to be broadly new to provide a mechanical horn employing a plurality of striker impacts rotating upon a plane parallel with the plane of the diaphragm, wherein said striker impacts successively engage the dissimilar number of diaphragm impacts to multiply the number of flexures of the diaphragm with each rotation of the rotary striker member.

Havingdescribed my invention, what ll claim as new, and desire to have protected by Letters Patent, is:

1. A mechanical horn embodying therein a diaphragm, an impact member carried thereby, a motor. the shaft of which is at an angle to the diaphragm and adapted to have axial movement toward and from the diaphragm. a striker .member carried by said shaft and adapted to engage said impact member, means normally imparting a thrust to said shaft toward said diaphragm comprising a movable thrust bearing acting upon said shaft, a housing inclosing said bearing, an adjustment member movable in said housing and accessible exteriorly of the horn, and a spring interposed between said bearing and said adjustment member whereby the force of impact may be regulated and the efiective displacement of said striker member upon the reflex action of said diaphragm may be controlled while the horn is running.

2. A mechanical horn, embodving therein a diaphragm, an electrical motor. and means for applying the power of said motor to vibrate said diaphragm, comprising an armature shaft element for said motor perpendicular to said diaphragm at its center, a diaphragm actuating, element carried by said shaft, and a resilient member acting upon said shaft to normally thrust it toward said diaphragm, whereby said diaphragm actuating element is always held in engagement with said diaphragm, while being capable of yielding under the reflex action thereof.

3. A mechanical horn, embodying therein a diaphragm, and mechanical impact means for agitating the same, including a high speed driving "shaft, disposed at an angle to the diaphragm, an impact member carried by said shaft, and a resilient member acting upon said shaft to normally thrust it toward said diaphragm whereby said impact member is always held in engagement with said diaphragm, while being capable of yielding under the reflex action thereof.

i. A mechanical horn, embodying therein a diaphragm, and mechanical impact means for agitating the same, including a high action thereof. 30-

5. Amechanical horn, embodying therein a diaphragm, and mechanical impact means for agitating the same, vincluding a rigid high speed rotary driving shaft, an impact member carried thereby',,,and a resilient member acting upon said shaft-to normallyv a diaphragm, and mechanical impact means for agitating the same, including a rigid high speed rotary driving shatt capable of endwi'se movement, an impact member carried thereby, and a resilient member acting upon said shaft to normally thrust it toward said diaphragm whereby said impact member is always held in engagement with 'said diaphragm, while being capable of yielding under the reflex action thereof.

7. lln a born or signal device, a diaphragm, a motor having a longitudinally adjustable armature shaft arranged at right-angles to the diaphragm at its center, aspring normally thrusting said shaft toward said diaphragm, and diaphragm actuating elements carried by said armature shaft, whereby relative adjustment of the diaphragm and diaphragm actuating elements may be efiected.

8. in a born or signaling device, a diaphragm, means for mechanically agitating the diaphragm, including a motor having its armature shaft arranged at an angle to the diaphragm, a spring normally thrusting said shaft toward said diaphragm, diaphragm actuating means carried by said shaft, and means for effecting axial relative adjustment of the field and armature of said motor.

9. In a horn or signal, a diaphragm, a power shaft approximately normal to the diaphragm, a spring normally thrusting said shaft toward said diaphragm, a rotary head carried by saidshaft and a plurality of diaphragm displacing elements carried by said head and distributed about the axis thereof together with a plurality of circularly distributed cotiperating elements on the diaphragm, whereby displacing efforts are applied at' a plurality of points away from the center of the diaphragm.

10. In a born or signal, a diaphragm, a symmetrical case arranged with its axis perpendicular to said diaphragm, an electric motor and means for applying the power of said motor to vibrate said diaphragm, said means comprising an armature shaft element for said motor having its axis perpendicular to said diaphragm at its center, a spring normally thrusting said shaft toward said diaphragm, and a diaphragm engaging element. carried by said shaft, said diaphragm being provided with a plurality of inequalities adapted for lateral engagement by said diaphragm engaging element.

11. A nechanical horn, embodying therein a diaphragm, an impact member carried thereby, a shaft at an angle to said diaphragm and movable axially, a spring normally tending to thrust said shaft toward said diaphragm, a rotor mounted on said shaft to coiiperate with said impact member and vibrate said diaphragm whereby said rotor will automatically recede against the action of said spring upon the reflex action of said diaphragm, and said rotor will always rotate upon an effective 7 operative plane irrespective of the degree of flexure or reflexure of said diaphragm.

12. A mechanical horn, embodying therein a diaphragm,'an impact member carried thereby, a shaft at an angle to said diaphragm and movable axially, a spring normally tending to thrust said shaft toward said diaphragm, a rotor mounted on said shaft to cooperate with said impact member and vibrate said diaphragm whereby said rotor will automatically recede against the action of said spring upon the reflex action of said diaphragm, and said rotor will always rotate upon an edective operative plane irrespective of the degree of ilexure or reflexure of said diaphragm, and means regulating the tension of said spring whereby the force of said thrust and the efiective displacement of said rotor upon the gagement with said first-mentioned impact reflex action upon said diaphragm may be surfaces. controlled. In witness whereof, I. have hereunto 13. A mechanical horn, embodying thereafiixed my signature, in the presence of two 5 in a diaphragm, having an impact member witnesses, this 25th day of February, 1911. 15

presenting 'a plurality of impact surfaces extending radially to different distances, OSCAR C. ARLITZ. and a rotary striker member at right angles Witnesses: to said diaphragm, and having a plurality F. T. Wnxrwomn,

10 of impact surfaces, having successlve en- EUGENE WENIM 

